Folding ax.



M. E. SEELY.

FOLDING AX.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 7. 1915.

1 1 89,005. Patented June 27, 1916.

MARTIN E. SEELY, OF- LORAIN, OHIO.

FOLDING AX.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented June 2'? 1916.

Application filed May 7, 1915. Serial No. 26,566.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, MAn'rrN E. SEELY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lorain in the county of Lorain and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Folding Axes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to axes and more particularly to campers or hunters folding axes. In this type of device some provision must be made for locking the ax shaft in alinement with the handle so as to prevent the ax blade from accidentally folding onto the operators hands.

It is the object of this invention to provide novel means for efiectively locking the ax in operative or inoperative positions.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character embodying a handle having an ax-holding shaft pivotally connected thereto so as to aline with the handle or be folded with the edge of the blade concealed within the handle and also to provide locking means for holding the shaft in extended or folded positions.

Further objects of the invention will appear as the following specific description is read in connection with the accompanying drawings which form a part of this application and in which Figure 1 is a side elevation showing the parts in operative position. Fig. 2 is a similar view with the shaft folded upon the handle. Fig. 3 is a detail longitudinal section showing the locking dogs.

Referring more particularly to the drawings the ax comprises generally a handle 1, a shaft or shank 2 and a blade 3 carried by the shank. The handle consists of a back 4 to which are secured the end pieces 5 and the separated side plates 6. The forward end pieces 5 are separated in the usual manner and have passing therethrough a pivot pin or rivet 7 to which the inner headed end 8 of the shank 2 is pivoted. This head 8 is substantially circular in outline and has a pair of notches 9 and 10 formed therein, the former producing shoulders 11 and 12 and the latter the shoulders 13 and 14. Pivoted between the side plates 6 on a stud 15 is a locking dog 16 having a projection 17 at one end arranged to engage either of the notches 9 or 10, and at the opposite end with a thumb-piece 18 the dog is provided with an inwardly extending V-shaped projection 19 which lies in between the legs of a V-shaped auxiliary locking dog 20 also pivoted upon the stud 21 extending across the side plates. The locking dog 20 has its leg forward of the projection 19 made relatively wide so as to have a projecting finger hold 22 and a notch engaging projection 23. Both dogs are held in operative position with their projections 17 and 23 normally adapted to engage the notches by means of a spring 24 whose intermediate loop portion is engaged around a pin 25 and whose opposite legs respectively engage the under side of the thumb-piece and a projection 26, the latter being formed on the inner leg of the dog 20. It will be noticed that when the shank 2 is alined with the handle and the projection 17 engaged with the notch 9, that the end of the dog 16 will abut against the shoulder 11 preventing rearward movement of the shank while the projection 23 abuts against the shoulder- 13 and prevents forward movement of the shank. The shank is also held against forward movement by the rear edge of the proj ection 17 engaging the shoulder 12 and the shank is held against rearward movement by the projection 23 engaging the shoulder 14:. In other words, I have provided a double lock for preventing movement of the shank in either direction when both dogs are engaged with their respective notches. It will also be noticed that when the locking dog 16 is in operative position with its projection 17 engaging with the notch 9 the locking dog 20 will have its projection engaged with the notch 10 and that the thumb-piece cannot be operated to release the projection 17 from the notch 9 owing to the fact that the V-shaped projection 19 is engaged with the outer leg of the locking dog 20 which must be first drawn to inoperative position before the dog 16 can be released.

It is, of course, understood that the dog 20 being normally placed into operative position, 'the head must be constantly held out of engagement with the head while the dog 16 is being released and thus as it is impossible to accidentally disengage both dogs simultaneously, the shank and blade will be maintained in operative position until manually released. When both dogs are released, as for instance, by withdrawing the dog 20 with the fore-finger and releasing the dog 16 by pressure of the thumb upon the thumb-piece 18 the shank may be turned to the position shown in Fig. 2 with the edge of the blade 3 concealed between the side plates. When in this position, the projection 17 will engage the notch 10 and hold the parts in folded position until the dog 16 is released. The handle being recessed to receive the edge of the blade when folded, the ax may be conveniently carried in the pocket without danger.

WVhat is claimed is 1. In a folding ax, a recessed handle, a pivoted blade shank having notches formed therein at substantially opposite sides, two pivoted spring pressed dogs mounted in said handle, one of which is positioned to engage either of the notches according as the blade is folded or extended, and the other positioned to engage one of the notches when the blade is extended, the said dogs being operable from opposite sides of the handle.

2. In a folding ax, a recessed handle, a pivoted blade shank having notches formed therein at substantially opposite sides of the pivot, two pivoted spring pressed dogs mounted. in said handle, one of which is positioned to engage either of the notches according as the blade is folded or extended, and the other positioned to engage one of the notches when the blade is extended and contacting with the first mentioned dog to hold the same against release when the shank is extended, said dogs being operable from opposite sides of the handle.

In testimony whereof I ali'iX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MARTIN E. SEELY.

WVitnesses H. G. VAUcnN, T. N. MORGAN.

copies of thil patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). 0. 

